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AFB Announces 2016 Access Award Winners

NEW YORK (February 8, 2016)—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is proud to announce that Avid Technology, Inc., Glinda Hill, ITNAmerica, Netflix and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will be honored with 2016 Access Awards for their commitment to innovation and access for all.

“The Access Awards shine a light on the organizations and individuals who are doing innovative work to expand possibilities for the more than 20 million Americans with vision loss," said Carl R. Augusto, president and CEO of AFB. "Each day, they are working to find solutions and improve access so that individuals who are blind or have low vision can lead lives of equality. I am proud to recognize this year’s Access Award winners and the important work that they are doing.”

Chosen annually, the Access Awards honor individuals, corporations and organizations that eliminate or substantially reduce inequities faced by people with vision loss. Previous award recipients include Apple, Inc., Google, Microsoft, Comcast, AT&T and Major League Baseball. The 2016 Access Awards will be presented to the recipients on March 4 at the AFB Leadership Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

About the 2016 Access Award Recipients:

Avid Technology worked with feedback from users to make Pro Tools, the leading audio production platform used by most recording studios and schools, accessible. This means that anyone—sighted or not—can work in a studio to produce audio content independently and with confidence.

Glinda Foster Hill, Education Program Specialist in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, Division of Research to Practice, is the very model of a committed, caring and dedicated public servant. Her work to spearhead funding and support for three successful leadership training collaborations for personnel serving blind, deaf or deaf-blind individuals has had a profound impact on equal access to education for the blind and low-vision communities.

ITNAmerica is the first, national non-profit transportation network committed to providing safe, low-cost, community-based transportation options for seniors and those with vision loss. By expanding mobility options for these underserved populations, and by developing Rides in Sight, the largest national transportation database and hotline for seniors and those with vision loss, ITNAmerica has helped many throughout the United States to remain independent and empowered.

Netflix continues to improve the experience for their members around the world, including providing accessibility across devices for those in the blind and low-vision community. Starting last spring, Netflix expanded their accessibility options by adding video description on a growing number of titles, including award-winning Netflix original series such as Marvel's Daredevil and House of Cards. Video description brings the world of television and movies alive for viewers who are blind or have low vision by providing audio narration of key visual elements.The National Federation of the Blind is being recognized as the creator of the KNFB Reader app, a tool that gives people with vision loss the capacity to read various types of printed material independently and efficiently in many environments. The power of this technology in a handheld, mainstream device is immeasurable, and the ability to read anywhere extends the impact of the KNFB Reader to all aspects of school, work, and leisure activities.

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About AFBThe American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.

About the American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference
The 2016 Joint AFB Leadership, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Delta Gamma Foundation, Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ and CTA Foundation, Google, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sprint, IBM, CTIA and many others, seeks to improve the quality of programs and services to blind and visually impaired children and adults. The AFB Leadership Conference provides a forum in which leadership personnel in the blindness field have the opportunity to increase their awareness of student and client needs, expand their knowledge, refine leadership skills and share concerns and strategies.